Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-03
STEALING A MILLION.


panied by a young man about twenty
years of age, who walked with a crutch
and stick, alighted from a carriage at
the door of M. Bouloy's Office, which they
entered.
The lady, who was shown into the pri-
vate room of the principal, introduced
herself as the widow of M. Duperre and
the young man as her son Henri. She
assisted the young man to sit down in a
comfortable position, saying:
s'My son, monsieur, has the misfortune
to be lame, owing to an injury received
when child"
M. Bouloy expressed regret, and asked
the lady how he could serve her.
"My late husband" she replied, cleft
some valuable stocks, and I am anxious
to dispose of part of them. My physi-
clan, DR.. Tocanier, recommended me to
apply to you as a gentleman of honor,
and one we'll acquainted with the best
methods of transacting such business, and
was good enough to send us hither in his
coupe"
M. Bouloy bowed and assured the lady
that it would give him great pleasure to
aid her in any way in his power. He
glanced through the window and recog-
nized the handsome bays and the livery
of the famous physician.
"These," she continued, drawing forth
a large envelope from her reticule, care
what / thought of parting with at pr es-
ont"
II regret to say, madame" he said,
"that at present this stock is selling far
below par. L may inform you, however.
that it is liable at any time to take a
rise"
"That is just it, monsieur" she said;
and I desire you to keep it by you until
such time as you think it judicious to
SELL"
After some talk M. Bouloy opened the
safe and placed the envelope with it's
contents therein. While he was so oc-
cupied the young man gave groan.
The lady rose hastily and cried:
"Dear me! another of those dreadful
fist"
M. Bouloy turned and saw the lady
with her arm around the neck of the
youth, gazing with fearful eye and an ex-
preston of anguish upon her counter
ance of the closed eyes and drawn face
of her son.
'Ah, it is very sad madame" he said.
''What can 1 do for your"
"Oh, monsieur" was the answer, eff
you could procure him glass of brandy
it would speedily restore him."
II will do it with pleasure" he replied,
aud quilted the room, going into an ad-
joining one and directing the young clerk
to get the restorative. Then he returned
to the private apartment and said he had
dispatched an empIoye for the brandy.
1t was speedily brought, and the young
man revived soon after few drops had
been swallowed. Then with many thanks
and expressions of gratitude, the widow
and her son withdrew, being accompan-
-iAd 20 th oarriuSo by NJ. DouIoy. M.
B6uloy returned to his sanctum, locked his
safe, and attended to further. business
Next day Mr.. Plat visited M. Bouloy,
and the latter gentleman, knowing that
the former had short time before held a
large amount of the stock which Nine. Du-
perre desired to sell, asked his visitor
what he had done with it,
'Why," he said, 81 hold it STILL and
should be glad to have more of it,
Then M. Bouloy said he had large
quantity of it to sell, and M. Plat asked
to see it. M. Bouloy opened his safe and
took out the envelope. On opening it his
establishment was great when he found a
lot of bank script.
t'What means this ?" he exclaimed, as
he examined the worthless stuff. Then
he turned toward the safe, and began
nervously to remove the contents. 81
am robbed" he cried. "Robbed of over
100000 francs in notes of the Bank of
France. / was directed by General -
- to realize for him on valuable secur-
tiles, and to keep the proceeds at hand to
give him at moments notice, and I am
robbed of all. am ruined man."
"Haye you no clue to the thief" asked
M. Plat.
81 am dazed-I cannot think" was the
answer. 81 will at once consult with the
police. beg that you will say nothing
of the affair to any one"
M. Plat pledged his word readily, and
the gentlemen quilted the Office together,
M. Bouloy going straight to the prefec-
ture of police, and laying his statement
before the chief there. Roquepine, IA
nous detective, was called in, and all the
facts we're disclosed TO him.
cit is all very clear to me, monsieur"
said the detective. SHINE. Duperre and
her son are the thieves, without doubt.
The fainting fit was ruse, and the re-
quest for brandy was made with the hope
that you would quit the room and leave
bnem alone with the SAFE. 1he grOan
and the fit came just as you had placed
the envelope in the safe and before you
had time to secure it. AS soon as you
left the room another envelope was sub
stituted for the one in the safe, and the
package of money was distracted"
But how did the thieves know the mon
ely was there?" asked nj. Bouloy.
"At present that is hard to say, but by
and by the question may be answered.
the detective replied.
But they came in DR.. Tocanier's COUPE
ssid the broker, 'and said they were rec
commended to me by him. He is my
physician and intimate friend.''
After further talk M. Bouloy departed
and soon after his arrival at his Office he
was joined by Roquepine. The latter
examined the safe, listened anew to the
recital of all the facts, and departed.
He first went to the. residence of DIR.
Tocanier, and found that gentleman to
home.
As he related to the doctor the circum-
stances of the visit of the lady calling
herself Nine. Duperre, and the young